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ilikebigbunz's review
5.0
While the book started out slow and then was a little rushed at then end, I think it suited the story and situation well. The author touches on a lot of important issues that exist today and it’s scary to read this and think that this could actually happen!
soccer8s's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
I'm on the fence here. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good...I wouldn't recommend it. I guess I should have read the back first.... but I never do.
trin's review against another edition
4.0
What can I say, I really enjoyed this. Tense, chilling, rooted in enough real-world evil to be deeply unsettling, but also just a wild and entertaining ride. I think it steps over the line into OTT territory a bit too often -- and in particular with the splattery finale; I prefer stories like this when they're as realistic as possible, because sadly few things are as horrific as history, politics, the present. But if Cole wanted some bloody catharsis, I can't begrudge her that. She's a romance author who decided to write a thriller, and I think every other choice she made in that process was equally deliberate.
cecile87's review
3.0
I’m going to share a friend’s review. I’m so tired of stupid racialized white people, I couldn’t finish it. So I share hers. This story is perfect to help whites get our POV if they can avoid pushing back, and gaslighting because they can’t handle how awful their tribe is and has been. Hopefully, in spite of overstating the villainy of white folks, this is a good story to help dense white people to get their impact on the lives of black folk.
SPOILER ALERT!!! If you haven’t finished the book, read no further!) When No One Is Watching is a surprisingly complex and suspenseful thriller. It feels “fresh”, even though it reminds me very much of Get Out.
I want to highlight a few things about the book:
Alyssa Cole does an excellent job of intermixing her fictional plot and characters with historical and current events and atrocities. So it is entertaining and educational. I won’t go over the many historical points, but consider the several engaging fictional plots. The most important plot (or plots) involves VerenTech’s scheme to steal property from Black homeowners who live in Gifford Place and to force Gifford Place residents (young and old) to serve as test subjects in opioid experiments. Other plots cover Sydney’s debt collector struggles, Theo’s unemployment problems, Sydney’s “sick” mother, Sydney and Theo’s developing romance, Sydney’s creation of a culturally inclusive brownstone tour, Drea’s relationship with her “work bae”, and Mr. Perkins’ block party planning.
OurHood (the messaging app) positions the plot within the current time and social media-based zeitgeist. Cole uses the app to expose the sinister Rejuvenation group as the force working against Sydney and her Black neighbors, and to foreshadow disappearances when contributors send dissenting comments.
All plots serve the thriller novel’s ultimate purpose, which is to highlight the continuing need for us all to battle racism in the United States.
The juxtaposition of the 2 main 1st person narrators seemed trite at 1st, but I began to understand Cole’s strategy. She intended to use the 2 perspectives of Sydney and Theo to illustrate both sides of a racially-charged issue: gentrification. Sydney presents the “Black perspective and experience” of social, cultural, and physical removal from our communities. Theo presents the “white perspective”, which often genuinely includes ignorance of, as well as complicity in, gentrification’s devastation of Black communities. Because of her strategy, if I’m white, I can “feel” Sydney now; if Black, I can “feel” Theo.
Cole tackles a number of themes in the novel. Here are a few:
She covers the theme of racism. She shows that racism is an historical as well as a current occurrence. Sydney’s research uncovers a history of racial violence against our ancestors and describes her experience with racism today. She’s subjected to racism today from neighbors who threaten to call the police when she doesn’t allow them to cut in line, when she must fight predatory debt collectors who targeted her mother’s home, and when she overhears her racist neighbors while she sits on her own stoop.
Cole tackles the theme of gentrification, where the American Dream of home ownership for Blacks must succumb to the vulturous actions of whites who disregard that dream in preference for their own dreams and priorities.
Cole considers the theme of gaslighting. There is gaslighting for Sydney during her marriage and in her interactions with white neighbors. There is gaslighting for Theo when his girlfriend presents as a friend of Blacks (with her Michelle Obama portrait) and when his white friends try to convince that there is no racism anymore.
Cole uses dogs to signal danger. Toby’s incessant barking signal her white owners hate and racism. Her owners’ allowing her to mess in the community and refusal to clean up symbolize what they’re doing to the neighborhood (predatory RE purchases, racist beliefs and plotting against Black neighbors), their refusal to acknowledge its impacts, and their refusal to make amends. Count Bassie, Mr. Perkins’ dog, is a loving community member until he howls to raise the alarm when Mr. Perkins is attacked by some mysterious evil. He is then stolen by a white couple, in the same way that Blacks may be controlled by whites against their own interests.
I liked the idea of The Day Club Crew, by the way. If only we had established such a force to protect and rescue our neighbors. They protected Sydney from gentrifiers who might have found her mother’s body had the Crew not removed it, and rescued Sydney and Theo from the VerenTech opioid research facility when the battle went against them.
There are some interesting symbols. Her are a few that I found interesting:
Bed bugs symbolize the infestation of white people into historically Black communities through gentrification. Note when Sydney notices the effects of her bites. Her neighbors, Terry and Josie, also use bed bugs as a scare tactic to force Black residents from their homes.
The Black family’s photo album, that Theo discovers in the garbage outside the home he purchases with Kim, symbolizes white disregard for Black stories.
Underhill Avenue, named after someone responsible for slaughtering indigenous people, symbolizes the American tendency to glorify evil historical figures, even in Black communities.
Fertilizer (yes, I’m using another word for an expletive) symbolizes (Josie’s family tradition as told to her son) the deliberate devastation of Black communities by enlisting others (e.g., VerenTech, police) to do the s**t work (e.g., bed bugs, thefts, intimidation) to facilitate gentrification, etc. on their behalf.
What are your thoughts about a few very minor concerns that I have:
I am uncomfortable with Sydney as an unreliable narrator. It’s not clear that she’s reflecting her experiences accurately. (Is this due to her ex-husband’s psychological abuse of her or the trauma of her mother’s death?). Sydney doubts herself, suffers panic attacks, and binge drinks (due to the loss of her mother?). I was at 1st unsure of whether to believe her and was uncomfortable when she began shooting everyone. She should be trusted with interpreting facts, with a gun?
I am uncomfortable, as well, with Theo being so weak and malleable. He is willing to accept the need for a “safe word” to help him understand when he is trying too hard or exhibiting his “white savior” tendencies. I agree that Sydney should not have to endure Theo’s tender white ego, but should Theo have to walk on egg shells around Sydney? Thoughts?
SPOILER ALERT!!! If you haven’t finished the book, read no further!) When No One Is Watching is a surprisingly complex and suspenseful thriller. It feels “fresh”, even though it reminds me very much of Get Out.
I want to highlight a few things about the book:
Alyssa Cole does an excellent job of intermixing her fictional plot and characters with historical and current events and atrocities. So it is entertaining and educational. I won’t go over the many historical points, but consider the several engaging fictional plots. The most important plot (or plots) involves VerenTech’s scheme to steal property from Black homeowners who live in Gifford Place and to force Gifford Place residents (young and old) to serve as test subjects in opioid experiments. Other plots cover Sydney’s debt collector struggles, Theo’s unemployment problems, Sydney’s “sick” mother, Sydney and Theo’s developing romance, Sydney’s creation of a culturally inclusive brownstone tour, Drea’s relationship with her “work bae”, and Mr. Perkins’ block party planning.
OurHood (the messaging app) positions the plot within the current time and social media-based zeitgeist. Cole uses the app to expose the sinister Rejuvenation group as the force working against Sydney and her Black neighbors, and to foreshadow disappearances when contributors send dissenting comments.
All plots serve the thriller novel’s ultimate purpose, which is to highlight the continuing need for us all to battle racism in the United States.
The juxtaposition of the 2 main 1st person narrators seemed trite at 1st, but I began to understand Cole’s strategy. She intended to use the 2 perspectives of Sydney and Theo to illustrate both sides of a racially-charged issue: gentrification. Sydney presents the “Black perspective and experience” of social, cultural, and physical removal from our communities. Theo presents the “white perspective”, which often genuinely includes ignorance of, as well as complicity in, gentrification’s devastation of Black communities. Because of her strategy, if I’m white, I can “feel” Sydney now; if Black, I can “feel” Theo.
Cole tackles a number of themes in the novel. Here are a few:
She covers the theme of racism. She shows that racism is an historical as well as a current occurrence. Sydney’s research uncovers a history of racial violence against our ancestors and describes her experience with racism today. She’s subjected to racism today from neighbors who threaten to call the police when she doesn’t allow them to cut in line, when she must fight predatory debt collectors who targeted her mother’s home, and when she overhears her racist neighbors while she sits on her own stoop.
Cole tackles the theme of gentrification, where the American Dream of home ownership for Blacks must succumb to the vulturous actions of whites who disregard that dream in preference for their own dreams and priorities.
Cole considers the theme of gaslighting. There is gaslighting for Sydney during her marriage and in her interactions with white neighbors. There is gaslighting for Theo when his girlfriend presents as a friend of Blacks (with her Michelle Obama portrait) and when his white friends try to convince that there is no racism anymore.
Cole uses dogs to signal danger. Toby’s incessant barking signal her white owners hate and racism. Her owners’ allowing her to mess in the community and refusal to clean up symbolize what they’re doing to the neighborhood (predatory RE purchases, racist beliefs and plotting against Black neighbors), their refusal to acknowledge its impacts, and their refusal to make amends. Count Bassie, Mr. Perkins’ dog, is a loving community member until he howls to raise the alarm when Mr. Perkins is attacked by some mysterious evil. He is then stolen by a white couple, in the same way that Blacks may be controlled by whites against their own interests.
I liked the idea of The Day Club Crew, by the way. If only we had established such a force to protect and rescue our neighbors. They protected Sydney from gentrifiers who might have found her mother’s body had the Crew not removed it, and rescued Sydney and Theo from the VerenTech opioid research facility when the battle went against them.
There are some interesting symbols. Her are a few that I found interesting:
Bed bugs symbolize the infestation of white people into historically Black communities through gentrification. Note when Sydney notices the effects of her bites. Her neighbors, Terry and Josie, also use bed bugs as a scare tactic to force Black residents from their homes.
The Black family’s photo album, that Theo discovers in the garbage outside the home he purchases with Kim, symbolizes white disregard for Black stories.
Underhill Avenue, named after someone responsible for slaughtering indigenous people, symbolizes the American tendency to glorify evil historical figures, even in Black communities.
Fertilizer (yes, I’m using another word for an expletive) symbolizes (Josie’s family tradition as told to her son) the deliberate devastation of Black communities by enlisting others (e.g., VerenTech, police) to do the s**t work (e.g., bed bugs, thefts, intimidation) to facilitate gentrification, etc. on their behalf.
What are your thoughts about a few very minor concerns that I have:
I am uncomfortable with Sydney as an unreliable narrator. It’s not clear that she’s reflecting her experiences accurately. (Is this due to her ex-husband’s psychological abuse of her or the trauma of her mother’s death?). Sydney doubts herself, suffers panic attacks, and binge drinks (due to the loss of her mother?). I was at 1st unsure of whether to believe her and was uncomfortable when she began shooting everyone. She should be trusted with interpreting facts, with a gun?
I am uncomfortable, as well, with Theo being so weak and malleable. He is willing to accept the need for a “safe word” to help him understand when he is trying too hard or exhibiting his “white savior” tendencies. I agree that Sydney should not have to endure Theo’s tender white ego, but should Theo have to walk on egg shells around Sydney? Thoughts?
bringitona's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, Violence, Death, Blood, Racism, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Mental illness, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Hate crime, Sexual content, Slavery, Domestic abuse, Stalking, Drug use, Confinement, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Classism, and Fire/Fire injury
kbrown_reads's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really wanted to love this book, as I really enjoy this author. But the pacing was too slow until the last 80% of the book. Half the time, we didn't know what was going on as there wasn't enough clues to tie everything together. I get that she wanted to keep us in the dark with the main plot line but there was too much going on but not enough that tied to the plot. I hate that I didn't love this book.
tey_lynn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Gore, Police brutality, Racism, Violence, Blood, Classism, Gun violence, Cursing, and Fire/Fire injury
katieterra's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
prettypious's review
4.0
I liked this book. I think some of the lower ratings have to do with the fact that the book is billed as a thriller and for a thriller it’s only a 3 partially because there is no build up or suspense throughout the story really. Most of the suspense and actions/thrills occur in the last like 1/3 of the book. For most of the book I felt like I was just reading contemporary fiction and possibly a romance, and the end of the book was kinda more horror than thrill but kinda wasn’t gore enough to be horror, if that makes sense. All that aside it was a great concept and the person that said it was like Get Out but about gentrification was spot on. As a thriller, it does have a slow build up but as a contemporary fiction it’s just fine pacing. I appreciated the character development of both Theo and Sydney as well as the Brooklyn community as a “character”. Anyways, I recommend this book because even though as a thriller it doesn’t quite hit the mark, it’s a great piece of fiction and the storytelling aspect of it was satisfying. I am also now interested in reading other books by the author.